Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 14:37
If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church while regulating their corporate worship practices. He issues this statement at the end of his instructions on spiritual gifts to establish the binding nature of his letter.
The words — ἐπιγινωσκέτω (epiginōsketō) means he should recognize, and δοκεῖ (dokei) means considers. These verbs frame the conditional demand placed on those claiming prophetic or spiritual status.
The thread — The text's emphasis on submitting to apostolic instruction and listening to those from God runs through 1 John 4:6, 2 Corinthians 10:7, and 2 Peter 3:2. These passages ground ecclesiastical order in divine commission rather than human opinion.
Why it lands — The verse states that apostolic writing carries the authority of the Lord's direct command. It requires readers to submit to established ecclesiastical order rather than treating the instruction as optional advice.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
Cross-references
- 1 John 4:6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
- 2 Peter 3:2 by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
- Jude 1:17 But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
- Numbers 24:3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
- Luke 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
- Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
- 1 Corinthians 7:25 Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
- 1 Corinthians 8:2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.